A user of a motor vehicle must maintain the motor vehicle so as to conform to the safety standards by inspecting it and carrying out maintenance as necessary.

①A user of a motor vehicle must inspect the motor vehicle by visual observation, etc., at an appropriate time judged from the distance traveled by the motor vehicle, its condition during operation, etc., in accordance with the technical standards prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, with respect to matters to be inspected on a daily basis, such as the lighting of lighting equipment and the functioning of braking equipment.

②Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the user of a motor vehicle listed in Article 48, paragraph (1), items (i) and (ii), or a person who operates such a motor vehicle, must carry out the inspection under that paragraph once a day, before the start of its operation.

③If, as a result of the inspection under the preceding two paragraphs, a motor vehicle is in a condition in which it is likely to cease to conform to the safety standards or does not conform to them, the user of the motor vehicle must carry out the maintenance necessary on that motor vehicle in order to eliminate the likelihood of its ceasing to conform to the safety standards or in order to make it conform to the safety standards.

①The user of a motor vehicle (excluding a special small motor vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph, Article 49, paragraph (1) and Article 54, paragraph (4)) must inspect the motor vehicles listed in the following items, for each period set forth in the relevant item, in accordance with the technical standards prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism according to the time of inspection and the type, use, etc. of the motor vehicle:

②The provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the case referred to in the preceding paragraph. In this case, the phrase "the preceding two paragraphs" in paragraph (3) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the preceding paragraph".

①The user of a motor vehicle must keep an inspection and maintenance record book in the motor vehicle and, when having inspected or maintained that motor vehicle pursuant to the preceding Article, must without delay enter the following particulars:

②The user of a motor vehicle (excluding a light motor vehicle exempt from inspection prescribed in Article 58, paragraph (1) and a special small motor vehicle; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph), when having performed specified maintenance (meaning maintenance or modification of a motor vehicle performed by removing the motor, power transmission equipment, running gear, steering equipment, braking equipment, shock-absorbing equipment, coupling equipment or automated operation device (meaning the automated operation device prescribed in Article 41, paragraph (2); the same applies in Article 99-3, paragraph (1), item (i)), or other maintenance or modification that is likely to affect the functioning of these devices (excluding the acts listed in that item), which is specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the same applies hereinafter) on that motor vehicle, must without delay enter in the inspection and maintenance record book referred to in the preceding paragraph the particulars listed in items (iii) through (v) of that paragraph; provided, however, that this does not apply when the user has performed that specified maintenance as the necessary maintenance under Article 47-2, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, or when a motor vehicle specified maintenance business operator prescribed in Article 78, paragraph (4) has carried out that specified maintenance.

③The retention period of an inspection and maintenance record book is prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

①In order to have matters concerning the inspection and maintenance of motor vehicles and the management of motor vehicle garages handled, a user of a motor vehicle must appoint a maintenance manager, for each base of operations of motor vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight of eight tons or more and are found to require particularly specialized knowledge regarding the inspection and maintenance of motor vehicles, and of other motor vehicles specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, in a number specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or more, from among persons who meet certain requirements specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism concerning practical experience in the inspection and maintenance of motor vehicles and other matters.

②A person who must appoint a maintenance manager pursuant to the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as a "user of large motor vehicles, etc.") must grant the maintenance manager the authority necessary for the performance of his or her duties.

A user of large motor vehicles, etc. must, when having appointed a maintenance manager, notify the Director of a District Transport Bureau to that effect within 15 days from that date. The same applies when the user has changed the maintenance manager.

The Director of a District Transport Bureau may, when a maintenance manager has violated this Act, an order under this Act or a disposition based on either of them, order a user of large motor vehicles, etc. to dismiss the maintenance manager.

①When a motor vehicle is in a condition in which it is likely to cease to conform to the safety standards or does not conform to them (excluding the case prescribed in paragraph (1) of the following Article), the Director of a District Transport Bureau may order the user of that motor vehicle to carry out the maintenance necessary in order to eliminate the likelihood of its ceasing to conform to the safety standards or in order to make it conform to the safety standards. In this case, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may give the user of that motor vehicle, which is in a condition of not conforming to the safety standards, instructions necessary for safety, or for pollution prevention and other conservation of the environment, such as restrictions on the method of use or route of that motor vehicle, concerning its operation until it comes to conform to the safety standards.

②When the user of a motor vehicle fails to comply with an order or instruction under the preceding paragraph and the motor vehicle is in a condition of not conforming to the safety standards, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may suspend the use of that motor vehicle.

③When the motor vehicle subject to the disposition under the preceding paragraph has come to conform to the safety standards, the Director of a District Transport Bureau must immediately revoke the disposition under that paragraph.

④In the case of ordering maintenance pursuant to paragraph (1), when the condition in which the motor vehicle is likely to cease to conform to the safety standards or does not conform to them is a condition arising from deterioration or wear that is specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and it has been found, as a result of confirming the presence or absence and contents of the inspection and maintenance record book and other matters concerning that motor vehicle, that an inspection under Article 48, paragraph (1) that is specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has not been carried out, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may recommend that the user of that motor vehicle carry out that inspection (excluding the part for which maintenance is ordered pursuant to paragraph (1)) and carry out maintenance as necessary.

①When a motor vehicle (excluding a special small motor vehicle) is in a condition of not conforming to the safety standards and the cause is found to be attributable to modification of the motor vehicle or a part thereof, installation or removal of equipment, or any other act similar thereto, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may order the user of that motor vehicle to carry out the maintenance necessary to make it conform to the safety standards. In this case, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may give the user of that motor vehicle instructions necessary for safety, or for pollution prevention and other conservation of the environment, such as restrictions on the method of use or route of that motor vehicle, concerning its operation until it comes to conform to the safety standards.

②When the Director of a District Transport Bureau has ordered maintenance pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Director must affix a maintenance order mark, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, at a conspicuous place on the front of that motor vehicle.

③No person may damage or soil the maintenance order mark affixed pursuant to the preceding paragraph, nor remove it until after the order under paragraph (1) has been revoked pursuant to paragraph (5).

④The user of a motor vehicle that has received an order under paragraph (1) must, within 15 days from the date on which the user received that order, present to the Director of a District Transport Bureau the motor vehicle on which the maintenance necessary to make it conform to the safety standards has been carried out, and the motor vehicle inspection certificate relating to that motor vehicle.

⑤When the motor vehicle relating to the presentation referred to in the preceding paragraph has come to conform to the safety standards, the Director of a District Transport Bureau must immediately revoke the order under paragraph (1).

⑥The Director of a District Transport Bureau may, by specifying a period of not more than six months, suspend the use of a motor vehicle when its user fails to comply with an order or instruction under paragraph (1) or violates paragraph (3) or paragraph (4).

⑦If the motor vehicle subject to the disposition under the preceding paragraph has not come to conform to the safety standards by the day on which the period of suspension of use of the motor vehicle under that paragraph expires, its user must not use it for operation even after the expiry of that period, until it comes to conform to the safety standards.

①To the extent necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of the preceding Article, the Director of a District Transport Bureau may have a person who has carried out modification of a motor vehicle or a part thereof, installation or removal of equipment, or any other act similar thereto, make a report concerning that person's business, or have the Director's staff members enter the offices or other places of business of that person and inspect books and documents and other articles, or question persons concerned.

②A staff member who conducts an on-site inspection pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry an identification card showing his or her status and must present it when requested by a person concerned.

③The authority to conduct on-site inspections under paragraph (1) must not be construed as being vested for criminal investigation.

①In order to improve the maintenance of motor vehicles, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducts a skills examination for motor vehicle mechanics upon application.

②The skills examination under the preceding paragraph is conducted by determining, by means of a written examination and a practical examination, whether the applicant has knowledge of and skills in the safety standards and other matters concerning the maintenance of motor vehicles.

③For a person who has completed the course of a training facility for motor vehicle mechanics designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism upon application, or any other person who holds certain qualifications, all or part of the written examination or practical examination may be exempted by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

④When there has been an unfair act in connection with the examination under paragraph (2), the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may suspend the taking of the examination by, or invalidate the passing of, a person involved in that unfair act. In this case, the Minister may, by specifying a period of not more than three years, bar that person from taking the examination under that paragraph.

⑤The types, examination subjects and application procedures of the skills examination for motor vehicle mechanics and other implementing details of the skills examination, and the implementing details of the designation of training facilities under paragraph (3), are prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may recommend that the user of a motor vehicle comply, with respect to the motor vehicle garage used for that motor vehicle, with the technical standards prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

In order to enable a person who uses a motor vehicle or puts it into operation to readily understand the methods of carrying out inspection and maintenance of motor vehicles, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is to prepare and publish a guide containing the following matters:

①A person engaged in the business of manufacturing motor vehicles, or a person who has concluded a contract to purchase motor vehicles to be exported to Japan from a person engaged in the business of manufacturing such motor vehicles in a foreign country and is engaged in the business of importing those motor vehicles (hereinafter referred to as "motor vehicle manufacturer, etc."), must, as prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, with respect to the motor vehicles that it manufactures to be put into operation in Japan or the motor vehicles that it imports, provide to a motor vehicle specified maintenance business operator prescribed in Article 78, paragraph (4) or the user of such a motor vehicle the technical information specific to the model of that motor vehicle, specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, that becomes necessary when they carry out inspection and maintenance (excluding that under Article 47-2 and Article 48; the same applies in the following paragraph).

②In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, a motor vehicle manufacturer, etc. must endeavor to provide to the user of a motor vehicle, with respect to the motor vehicles that it manufactures to be put into operation in Japan or the motor vehicles that it imports, the technical information, specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, that becomes necessary when the user of that motor vehicle carries out inspection and maintenance under Article 47.